Third seed David Ferrer has won through to the second round of the Australian Open, defeating Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez 6-3 6-4 6-4.

The Spaniard was tested over two hours and had to recover from a service break down in the third set to advance.

Ferrer next plays Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who won through after a five-set struggle with American wildcard Steve Johnson.

Ferrer is joined in the second round by eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka, who was the opening day’s first winner.

Wawrinka was leading Andrey Golubev 6-4 4-1 when the Kazakh retired injured with a lower leg complaint on the opening day of the championships.

On a hot Melbourne day, Wawrinka spent just 65 minutes on court, but said he would have preferred longer on court.

“We never want the opponent to retire for injury but that’s what happened today,” Wawrinka said.

“I was feeling good. I think it’s one of the best starts in a grand slam if I look about my game and how I felt on court. I was moving well, playing strong.”

Wawrinka, who won the Chennai Open last week, said a number of factors gave him hope he could better his 2013 performance, where he lost a five-set classic in the fourth round to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

“Coming after a great year, being for the first time in the top 10 and starting the year with a title, for sure that gives me confidence.”

Wawrinka – who is again in Djokovic’s quarter of the draw – will face either Colombian Alejandro Falla or another Kazakh, Mikhail Kukuschkin, in the second round.

Russian 14th seed Mikhail Youzhny was also among the Open’s first day winners, defeating German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1 6-4 6-2.